"You'd think the seller of the Merc would at least wash it and put some wheel covers on it" to summarize Pat Ganahl's comment on his blog page. Find and subscribe if you appreciate great automotive writing.
The brown Merc above is a real beauty. I think if it sat flat on the ground, I'd say the windshield was too low compared to the rest of the roof, like it angles forward. But with the angle the suspension sits it looks perfect, like the whole car is leaning forward. Really exceptionally well done.
For the past few years I've been thinking about raising the front of my Merc. My front clip is too wide for the body and the front fenders cut into my white walls. Over the years I've been careful but stuff happens. I was studying the stance of this Merc and liking what I was seeing because it gives it the look of an old build. But like you mentioned, chop tops and all body modifications change when you change the stance.
When I set the ride height on my Merc, [it's on a 77 Cutlas chassis], the top of the whitewall on the front is even with wheel opening and the rear has the bottom tip of the skirt at the whitewall/rim point. The rims are stock chevy 15x6 , tires 215/75r15. If the front sat any lower, the tires would rub when turning. The car appears to be lower in the rear but the rocker panels are parallel the the ground. BTW, anybody notice the side molding?
Your Merc sits pretty low, how do you keep your exhaust tips round? My Merc may be a little lower in the back. I'm running a '52 Caddy back bumper and the exhaust runs through the bumper. I love parking on grass, it makes Kustoms look that much lower. The molding looks kool! What did you use?
The tips drag quite often . Have air shocks with the coil springs from a 70 Chevelle. If I think the tips will bottom out hard I'll raise the shocks. Have a double throw toggle switch and a compressor out of a Cad. Up inflates, down lets the air out. Yes, parking in grass does make them look lower. And, showing up to a cruise when the sun is getting low in the sky makes the red look redder ! The molding is stock 49 but is reversed front to back. I like the look.
I assume you custom welded and polished the stainless trim to achieve the long rear quarter piece with the embossed "M E R C U R Y". Nice touch. I've got some of that in my future when I get going on my next project. I don't have the tools/experience to do that on my own. Any tips pointing me in the right direction, Who?, How Much?, etc... would be appreciated.
No welding. I did polish the strips. Took the front fender strip that has the Mercury on it, cut off the beveled end at the door opening, moved it to the other side on the rear. Cut off enough from the rear quarter spear forward end to the length needed. Squared off the cut ends with a fine flat file to butt up square. Made a rectangular piece if flat steel to fit inside the molding to act as a connector to align both pieces. The remainder of the rear spear I mounted on the front fender. That's the length that was left. Only noticeable if you look for it. The shape of end with Mercury mimicks the shape of the lower quarter panel.
Are you using stock springs and lowering blocks? Is that where it rides? The bumper treatment and tail lights are killer!
Thanks @ned5049 I'm very happy how the rear turned out...... My Merc runs on a '78 Cougar chassis. It is channeled 3 inches over the Cougar frame with one coil spring removed. I have recently added air shocks so I've raised it up a little. This where she rides we have been allover the mid west and looking forward to many more miles.
I knew it looked familiar just couldn't see it good enough looking at it on my cell phone. You are Blessed to own such a kool Mercury. Thanks for sharing.
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